Wednesday 5th February 2020

People loitered around in the pale winter morning sun as if they were on a summer garden party in the park .. none showing much urgency to move. Eric climbed onto a wall so they could see him (they still couldn’t) and hawked the intermediate ride for all it was worth, which wasn’t a lot, and without much joy .. the 10 or 11 from last week (and he had promised the cafe destination on the phone) dwindled to 5 as they were underwhelmed by his sales pitch! It may have been the “Mediocre team this way” that sealed its fate. Anyway he was followed by Pat, who only came because it went back via her house, Dave, who only in his 3rd week did not want to join up with Jeff’s “suicide squad” that the rumours had been flying around about, and as he had been on the short ride in his first week and almost dragged into a drive by, flapjack snatch, he thought he’d give that a wide berth , Clyde tagged on at the back but only because I think he is getting a bit hard of hearing and missed the long ride call. Derek joined at Meadow lane because he had to go home for his, lunch money or handkerchief or something? Finally under way we went through town and out to Stanford turning left up Fox Hill which Eric claimed (falsely) to be be the only hill on the route. At Normanton we did a rather fancy right turn into Butt lane (no laughing children!). At the top there was a right and left and steady up and down to East Leake. We continued through the village to Costock where we crossed the busy A60 and onto Wysall. From Wysall we carried on along some rolling countryside north towards our destination of Keyworth. There is a Long dragging hill up to it and Eric trustworthiness was called into question on several occasions. Into the village, past the pub and Alices tea room appeared on the left. This is a new establishment with bike parking at the back and they had kindly reserved seating for 10. The 5 of us came in sheepishly and tried our best to spread out and look bigger!

We had lovely coffee and cakes and scones and it was a general consensus that Alice and her tea room were worth visiting again. Once refreshed we saddled up and heading onward we turned right at the church and advanced towards Widmerpool. As we came around a right hand bend in Widmerpool we turned left and our next place on the journey was Willoughby on the Wolds. At Willoughby we turned right and climbed another gradual hill into Wymeswold . At this point Pat had had enough and went home and the rest turned left to Burton. Past the vast fields of solar panels we came into Burton and did a right then a left at the mini roundabout. Over yet another hill we dropped down and did a left and sharp right heading to Cotes. Turning right down Bandalls lane we finally joined the busy A 6 back into Loughborough dodging the trucks past The Brush and back into the centre of town. At the end of the trip we had completed approximately 28miles and climbed about 1400 feet on the “no hills!” Route.

Long Ride Report:

Alan, Brian, David, Jeff, Mick & Rob made up the numbers for the long ride to Twyford. (Initially, Ann and Terry had also opted for this ride but Mick informed us that unfortunately they had to pull out just after the start owing to a mechanical issue with Ann’s bike). The ride commenced in a southerly direction, straight down the Soar Valley, through Quorn, Mountsorrel and Rothley, where they turned left along Syston Road to Cossington Lakes. Here they utilised the riverside cycle way, emerging onto Meadow Lane to Syston and then onto the Brookside cycle path, which continues across the High Street to Upper Church Street. They were now guided by the blue cycle way signage, snaking round the houses and out onto yet another cycle path, alongside Melton Road to Queniborough. Shortly they passed beneath the busy and noisy roundabout of the A607 by way of the underpass, dodging the bollards and broken glass to arrive at East Goscote. Here, there was a brief pause for Alan to examine his bike for a suspected puncture while Mick set about unwrapping a boiled sweet. With Alan’s bike pronounced roadworthy, they continued to Rearsby where they turned right onto Gaddesby Lane. All except Mick, that is, who was still working on that boiled sweet. Eventually they regrouped and headed out into the sticks to Gaddesby.

They breezed along in high spirits, soaking up the sunshine and scenery, weaving through Ashby Folville to enjoy the pleasure of the route’s first proper uphill. Next it was gently downhill to Twyford whereupon they turned right and were thrilled to see the long, tough climb to Holland’s Nurseries. Upon arrival they were not so thrilled by a notice informing the weary cyclist that the place would be closed until the Spring. So there they stood, by the barren wayside, dejected with a haunting stare of hunger in their tired eyes, thinking whose crackpot idea was this? Now wishing they’d chosen a different ride, would the mob resort to mutiny? Of course not - they were merely hungry for more miles! So, rather than waiting a couple of months for the cafe to open, they got back on their bikes and made for Roots’ cafe at Barkby Thorpe. After all, another couple miles or so didn’t seem too far before the tea break. Good thing they weren’t aware it was actually 7.5 miles. So, in cheerful mood once more, they continued along the B6047 and shortly turned right onto Park Road to descend steeply into the wilderness. Here the landscape is even more desolate and hilly and having crossed Queniborough Brook, the single track road then led them steeply upwards to a right turn onto Cold Newton Road, to Hungarton. Caution was called for here as the descending narrow road was plastered with a generous layer of wet mud. Soon they were passing the “Black Boy Inn” and sauntering down Hungarton Lane to Beeby. Straight on at the crossroads onto Barkby Road and refreshments now seemed a reality.

Seated inside the warm cafe at Barkby Thorpe, with refreshments spread out before them, they reflected upon the journey thus far, which amounted to some 25.5 miles. Mick then entertained the group with memories of 100 mile rides every weekend. It was around 12.30 when they eventually emerged from the cafe for a photo shoot prior to the return jaunt. They departed along Barkby Thorpe Lane to meet Barkby Lane at the Midland railway bridge, which they crossed to enter Syston. Here they went right, up Melton Road and left onto Wanlip Road to the “Hope & Anchor”. Back once more on the riverside cycle way they made directly for Cossington, Sileby and Mountsorrel. In Quorn they passed Eric who was heading in the opposite direction, presumably returning home having completed his turn of duty leading the intermediate ride. They arrived back in Loughborough at about 13.30.

Stats. for the nerds.

Total ride distance approx: 38 miles (25.5 out, 12.5 back).

Elevation Gain: 1213 ft.

Max Elevation: 530 ft.

Average Speed: 11.5 mph.